The campaign was launched last year after Corus dropped its shock announcement on the region - sink or swim in the world market.

Save Our Steel was one of the first interactive campaigns under the banner of Tees Pride and we organised a summit to give the workers and their families a voice that challenged the company, the unions and the Government. The Gazette has continued to follow Corus' plans closely, attending in-depth briefings with management, unions and MPs.

But now the jobs threat has been lifted thanks to the signing of an agreement for Teesside Cast Products - which employs 1,700 - to supply a consortium of overseas companies for the next decade.

It will also make millions of pounds available to upgrade TCP's plants. And means a joint venture deal, which Corus had hoped to secure, is no longer necessary - giving extra security to workers.

The deal is a tribute to the skill, drive and expertise of Teesside workers; to the superb quality of the product they produce; to the determination of all those fiercely determined the steel trade would survive - and prosper.

* Maternity Crisis:

News of the closure of Guisborough's maternity unit came as a bombshell for mums-to-be in East Cleveland. The unit closed its doors on November 15, 2002 with hospital chiefs saying it would stay that way for the "forseable future". Local people were outraged and the Gazette quickly jumped to their defence and set up a special Tees Pride Open to Question meeting where health bosses gave assurances the unit would re-open.

During the following months the Gazette kept a close watch on developments, putting continued pressure on health chiefs to uphold their promise. On June 25 this year Guisborough's maternity unit re-opened, 19 months after closure.

And Lisa Jones and partner Paul Frankland were thrilled when little Eloise made her entrance into the world and became the first baby born at the re-opened site - just a day after its new start.

* Save Our Infirmary:

When North Riding Infirmary closed last year, little did planners realise it would spark so much interest.

The Evening Gazette kicked off its "Save Our Infirmary" campaign to save the historic building from the bulldozers when supermarket chain Aldi revealed its plans to build a food store on the site.

But Aldi now plans to appeal against the decision. A public inquiry will be held by a Government inspector. It is likely to be held in July, meaning it could be late 2005 or early 2006 before a decision is reached.

* Let The Boats Come In:

This has proved to be one of the Gazette's most controversial campaigns.

It kicked off in June last year when the Gazette revealed Teesside firm Able UK had signed the world's biggest recycling contract. Described as a "phenomenal" deal, the job entailed the dismantling of 13 American former naval ship from a massive obsolete fleet moored in the US - know as the Ghost Fleet.

But controversy was immediately sparked with concerns over the safety of the ageing ships. Green groups described them as "floating environmental hazards".

But from day one the Gazette took the stance that the work could be carried out safely on Teesside and should be done with "some pride and joy". The Gazette was given an exclusive tour of the ghost ships.

The ships have been virtually untouched since their arrival - by order of the High Court. But after finalising a planning application and environmental impact assessment, it's hoped work will start on dismantling in April.

* Statue For Cloughie:

When Boro's footballing legend Brian Clough died from stomach cancer in September, the call came to mark his memory with a statue.

Born in Middlesbrough on March 21, 1935, Cloughie became a professional footballer with his local club at the age of 17.

During his time at Ayresome Park, he was leading scorer for three successive seasons and eventually netted 204 goals in 222 games.

Within a week of his death, a group of fans, ex-footballers and Middlesbrough councillors volunteered to lead the campaign - and the Cloughie Memorial Fund committee was set up.

The choice of a statue of a young Cloughie strolling through Middlesbrough's Albert Park - one of four ideas proposed - has now been selected. The Brian Clough Memorial Fund Committee will now decide which artists should design the statue and how much it will cost.

* Battle For Ships:

Launched in a bid to attract new jobs to build the Navy's two new aircraft carriers. The North-east is set to play a significant part in the contract and that Swan Hunter at Port Clarence would be a major player, needing perhaps as many as 1,500 workers at the peak of construction. But work will not start for several years.

Swan Hunter is now chasing other work projects to keep its Tees yard afloat until the Ministry of Defence contract arrives.